Geosynthetics Ltd has today learnt of a recent proposal from Highways England to build a new tunnel linking Essex and Kent under the River Thames. This has raised concerns for the health and protection of an expected 12 ancient woods with 15 veteran trees within or close to the development boundary.

The Woodland Trust, who are the largest woodland conservation charity in the United Kingdom concerned with the creation, protection, and restoration of native woodland heritage and are currently campaigning against these proposals. Because of the previous campaigns against the proposal and over 7000 concerns submitted, Highways England has developed its original plans and are consulting on the changes however these ancient woods and veteran trees are still at risk!

This is irreplaceable habitat that could be damaged or at worst destroyed. The Woodland Trust’s own ancient woodland, Ashenbank Wood at Cobham in Kent, could be among those at risk. This wood is part of the Shorne and Ashenbank Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its deadwood, veteran trees and open ground habitat. Rare wildlife including great crested newt and dormouse make their homes there. This is just a small portion of what could be lost if the current tunnel plans go ahead.

The Woodlands Trust said ‘The Lower Thames Crossing project team has held numerous meetings with environmental groups over the years. We believe its members are listening to us. But the level of damage and loss to ancient woodland remains unacceptable.’

With many UK projects and developments raising eyebrows over the risk of destroying and building over ancient woodlands and trees it does raise the question of ‘is there anything that can be done to prevent this?’. In todays society it’s more important than ever to accommodate a growing population and the infrastructure required to sustain this whilst protecting and sustaining our natural environment especially trees.

At Geosynthetics Ltd our goal is to enable developments whilst protecting the rooting environment of retained mature trees. We are a UK based independent Geosynthetic product supplier who offer a range of products to suit various applications. One of these products include our Cellweb® Tree Root Protection (TRP) system. Cellweb®TRP is the only cellular confinement system specifically designed and sold for tree root protection applications. The unique cell size, cell depth and cell wall perforations combine to create the market leading tree root protection system.

Cellweb®TRP is a no-dig solution that ensures that the loads placed upon it are laterally dissipated rather than transferred to the soil and roots below. The walls of the cells are perforated and when combined with the infill of clean angular stone, enable free movement of water and oxygen, ensuring that nutrient supplies to the tree roots are maintained.

Using the Cellweb®TRP no-dig solution within the root protection area (RPA) can reduce sub base depths by up to 50%, providing further cost savings. Cellweb® TRP also effectively prevents surface rutting; optimising long term performance and aesthetics of the final surface.

Furthermore Cellweb® Tree Root Protection System complies with BS5837:2012, APN 12 and tree preservation order (TPO) guidelines.  It is also recommended and adopted for use in root protection areas (RPA’s) by councils all over the UK.

Cellweb®TRP is the only guaranteed cellular confinement system available today. It is also the only system to have been independently tested and proven to minimise compaction of the sub-soils and roots. Customers have been using the system since 1998 without failure.

If these proposed developments start incorporating our Cellweb®TRP system in to the sub-base of any hard surfacing areas and enabling works within tree root protection zones it not only shows they are taking the protection of these woodlands into consideration but it could also minimise the damage left behind to these habitats including the trees on and just outside the development boundary.

The Tree Root Protection Team at Geosynthetics offer customers constant support throughout the project from the initial design stage, through to installation. They can offer advice, on-site support and technical recommendations to assist our customer.

Geosynthetics Tree Root Protection Specialists combined with fully qualified in-house Civil Engineers provide complementary site-specific technical recommendations and educational seminars on Tree Preservation Orders and the Cellweb®TRP system. If you would like further any information or would like to book a seminar today, please contact our sales team on 01455 617139 or email sales@geosyn.co.uk.

To read Woodland Trust’s own article on their campaign and to see how you can get involved please visit https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/protecting-trees-and-woods/campaign-with-us/lower-thames-crossing/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=campaigns&utm_content=lowerthamescrossing.